Published: 16 December 2024
On Friday 29th November, Spotlight on Science returned to our campus – a series of free events for the public to get the inside scoop on the latest health and medical research from scientists and healthcare professionals.
The first event of the new series focused on the importance of good heart and blood vessel health. The night featured three expert speakers who shared their knowledge on high blood pressure, often termed the ‘silent killer’, along with the innovative technologies and treatments shaping the future of cardiovascular care.
Arming yourself against a silent killer
Following an initial welcome from Professor Julian Ma, the audience heard from Dr Tarek Antonios, Head of the Blood Pressure Unit at St George’s Hospital.
He set the scene for the evening as he spoke about the importance of measuring blood pressure as the only way to detect high blood pressure (hypertension), that it is the most common chronic medical condition and is the leading risk factor for death worldwide, contributing to life-ending events such as heart attack and stroke. He also delved into many factors that lead to high blood pressure.
Dr Antonios highlighted various causes of high blood pressure and underscored the need for a holistic approach to treatment. He shared that there are different treatment options based on the severity of a person’s blood pressure level and that by focusing on managing all risk factors in a patient’s care, healthcare providers can better address the complexities of hypertension.
To conclude his session, Dr Antonios touched on a current research study his team are conducting on a new drug given by injection every 6 months that aims to improve the management of high blood pressure.
Navigating the future of AI-driven smart sensors
Professor Caroline Li, from the Research Centre for Biomedical Engineering at City St George’s was next to take centre-stage. She explored the future of high blood pressure treatment through new technologies and innovative AI-driven smart sensors.
She presented on several key trends that are transforming the way blood pressure is measured. Professor Li introduced the concept of pervasive sensing, where wearable sensors - small, flexible, and even washable - could eventually allow us to measure high blood pressure directly from the finger. She expanded on their wider application and explained that these sensors have the potential to also detect a wide range of metabolic markers, helping to assess risks for conditions like heart attacks.
Professor Li’s talk showcased how advancements in other types of technologies including optical sensing technology, pulse wave analysis and machine learning are advancing the field. Despite the promise of AI-driven interventions, Professor Li raised important questions about the trustworthiness of AI in developing treatments, stressing the importance of rigorous approval processes and learning from AI's limitations to improve accuracy in healthcare applications.
Trying to 'mute' the silent killer
Dr Daniel Meijles from the Cardiovascular and Genomics Research Institute at City St George’s rounded-off the event.
Dr Meijles delved a little deeper into the science of high blood pressure from a pre-clinical perspective. He explained the importance of the heart to be able to adapt to various influences that cause the heart to experience a change in pressure. These factors include aging, sport and physical exertion, caffeine, specific food products and other diseases such as diabetes and pulmonary disorders. He also shared that other factors – including age, sex and race - dictate changes in blood pressure from person to person, and emphasised how these need to be taken into account when undertaking excellent and impactful research.
This information set the scene for Dr Meijles to share his own research, which aims to understanding the mechanisms for why the heart is not able to adapt and remodel itself effectively in those with high blood pressure. Zooming in further, he shared some of the changes in and between the heart cells that take place in high blood pressure.
Finally, Dr Meijles explained how his work is going one step further to see whether other drugs – such as anti-cancer drugs – can be repurposed to offer new and alternative treatments for high blood pressure by increasing blood flow to the heart.
Sparking lively discussions
“This event brought together researchers from City St George’s (Tooting and Clerkenwell campuses) and St George’s Hospital. It showed the range of expertise we have in relation to the important health issues of our time. The event sparked lively discussions around heart health, setting the stage for future events.”
- Dr Daniel Meijles, co-lead for Spotlight on Science at City St George’s -
“The Spotlight on Science series is a testament to City St George’s commitment to advancing medical research and fostering innovation in healthcare. We’re proud to be at the forefront of these discussions and to be able to share new research insights and what’s up and coming in the scientific arena with the public."
- Professor Julian Ma, co-lead for Spotlight on Science at City St George’s -
The Spotlight on Science series will continue in the New Year, and each event will be themed around a key area of our health research.
Read more about Spotlight on Science events